Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim’s Wing) has promised a better Hajj exercise next year.
In a press briefing at the Olodo Ibadan office of the Board on Tuesday, the Chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board Professor Sayed Malik admitted that there were hitches in this year’s Hajj exercise but pledged that such hitches would not be allowed to re-occur in 2023.
“Lessons have been learned in this year’s Hajj exercise. And these lessons will be put to use in the planning of next year’s exercise. I want to assure you that we will block all loopholes noticed in the 2022 hajj. In sha Allah, 2023 Hajj will be better in terms of planning and arrangements”, Professor Malik said.
While apologizing to intending pilgrims who couldn’t perform Hajj in 2022, the State Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman, who exonerated his Board from the unfortunate phenomenon, however promised to compensate the victims of the sad incident.
“I am promising that those who couldn’t perform hajj in 2022 will be given priority in 2023, while any of them who requests for refund will be paid back in full without any deduction”, the State Pilgrims Welfare Board Boss assured.
Professor Malik however declared the 2022 Hajj exercise a success despite admitting that there were hitches in the exercise.
“In spite of the initial hiccups caused by the Saudi Authorities’ strict anti COVID 19 protocols and the haphazard arrangements of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the hajj exercise was a success.
“The initial hitches were overcome, and there was no casualty throughout the period of the holy pilgrimage. All the 641 pilgrims whom we transported to the holy lands were returned safely”, he asserted.
Professor Malik further adds: “all the pilgrims were given their Basic Traveling Allowances (BTA) in full. The initial complaints of a very few of the pilgrims were addressed as none of them was owed”.
The Saudi Arabian trained Professor of Arabic Studies was full of thanks to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde for the massive supports he gave to the Board.
“The success recorded in this year’s Hajj exercise could not have been possible if not for the support we enjoyed from His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde. We therefore thank Governor Makinde for the timely and invaluable moral and financial supports he gave to the Board. We are also grateful to the members of the Government Delegation. Their activities contributed immensely to the success of this year’s Hajj exercise”, he concluded.
